sak
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since December 2013
Posts: 88
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Post by sak on Jun 19, 2014 0:49:42 GMT -5
Hi all, I finally completed by tumbler builds. I built a tumbler for my daughter for Christmas. I started with a "vintage" Singer sewing machine and transformed it into a tumbler. I was inspired to use the sewing machine because if had metal gears & I felt gears would be better than using belts. It worked!!! but, ....the motor was a bit weak for the amount of stones we needed to tumble (my 7 year old daughter is a rock hoarder!!!). My daughter was really disappointed that we couldn't use the sewing machine tumbler and wanted one that would work....so, I said....no more playing around....lets go INDUSTRIAL. I built an industrial grade tumbler designed to last 100+ years that can handle any amount of rocks my daughter brings home!!! Most of the parts that I used, where sourced from salvage yards (flat stock steel, continuous duty motor w/thermal protection, & precision steel axle rods). The unique twist on my new version is that it has multiple tension adjustments for the belt (the motor can slide both forward & back as well as diagonally enabling it to both align and tighten the belt perfectly). I also used a v-belt rated for 100,000 miles (I don't think I'll ever need to change that). I'd like to post some pics. How can I do that? It says "Error: This forum has exceeded its attachment space limit. Your file cannot be uploaded." PS you guys have helped me a lot in the past. I'd like to post the pics so that it helps someone out there you might want to build a tumbler.... Singer Sewing Machine Ver 1 converted to tumbler: Industrial Tumbler: Top of tumbler: I covered the axles with rubber radiator hoses. I also added 2 bearings on the neutral axle to act as a stop for the barrels. Tumbler with Barrels: The barrels are 6 inch diameter. If you notice I put a slit where the small pipe meets the painted black steel. This allows for the motor to be adjusted diagonally. Rotating the handle moves the motor forward or back. This is the underside of the adjustment mechanism. The motor nuts are fastened to a piece of flat stock that's welded to washers. Here's the v-belt rated for 100,000 miles. I hope you guys like this and feel free to steal any of my ideas if you like them. Thanks. Sak...
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Jun 19, 2014 0:56:04 GMT -5
Hi all, I finally completed by tumbler builds. I built a tumbler for my daughter for Christmas. I started with a "vintage" Singer sewing machine and transformed it into a tumbler. I was inspired to use the sewing machine because if had metal gears & I felt gears would be better than using belts. It worked!!! but, ....the motor was a bit weak for the amount of stones we needed to tumble (my 7 year old daughter is a rock hoarder!!!). My daughter was really disappointed that we couldn't use the sewing machine tumbler and wanted one that would work....so, I said....no more playing around....let go INDUSTRIAL. I built a industrial grade tumbler designed to last 100+ years that can handle any amount of rocks my daughter brings home!!! The unique twist on my new version is that it has multiple tension adjustments for the belt (the motor can slide both forward & back as well as diagonally enabling it to both align and tighten the belt perfectly). I'd like to post some pics. How can I do that? It says "Error: This forum has exceeded its attachment space limit. Your file cannot be uploaded."
Just upload the pics to a hosting site such as Photo bucket, or Flicker and then click the little "picture" icon in the options above here and paste the link. PS you guys have helped me a lot in the past. I'd like to post the pics so that it helps someone out there you might want to build a tumbler.... Thanks guys. Sak...
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sak
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since December 2013
Posts: 88
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Post by sak on Jun 19, 2014 1:09:39 GMT -5
Hi Nick...
Nice to know there's a least 1 other Greek whose crazy about rocks!!! My daughter Zoe got our whole Greek family crazy over rocks!!!
Sak
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on Jun 19, 2014 6:54:09 GMT -5
Cool, very nice pieces, build big or go home, lol
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2014 12:56:32 GMT -5
hmmm......
bearing on the neutral axle to act as a stop for the barrels. That bearing not rubbing but rotating along the edge of the barrels??
hmmm....
That smells suspiciously like a solution to the PVC barrel getting rubbed raw problem.
Nice work!
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Post by DirtCleaner on Jun 19, 2014 19:39:52 GMT -5
don't mean to bomb your thread but had to repost this when I saw the title to it. Missed being the buyer by a couple of minutes.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,666
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 19, 2014 19:47:27 GMT -5
Nice build!
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,729
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Post by gemfeller on Jun 19, 2014 19:52:03 GMT -5
Whew! Its got a motor! At first I thought someone would have to sit there operating the treadle day and night LOL
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sak
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since December 2013
Posts: 88
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Post by sak on Jun 19, 2014 22:55:33 GMT -5
don't mean to bomb your thread but had to repost this when I saw the title to it. Missed being the buyer by a couple of minutes. Hey Dave, I love the pic. How cool is that!!! And I thought I had the original idea to use a sewing machine for a tumbler. Now that I think about it... This guy used a sewing machine table . I on the other hand actually used the sewing machine. I wonder how many other wacky creative tumblers are out there? Thanks for the pic. Sak
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,332
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Post by quartz on Jun 19, 2014 23:58:21 GMT -5
Nice build, always thought building for durability is the best way to go. What is the capacity of those barrels, volume, not weight? Wonder how much the sewing machine frame one weighs full?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Jun 20, 2014 7:30:57 GMT -5
heavenly, love em all. cool designs. Bulletproof. because the pillar blocks were close together I put the end roller on the belt guard
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sak
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since December 2013
Posts: 88
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Post by sak on Jun 20, 2014 22:33:01 GMT -5
Nice build, always thought building for durability is the best way to go. What is the capacity of those barrels, volume, not weight? Wonder how much the sewing machine frame one weighs full? Thanks for the compliment. My barrels @ 75% capacity hold approx 4.5lbs. In total, I can run 3 barrels at a time for a total of 13.5 lbs. I think it's the perfect size for my 7 year old rock hoarder daughter Sak...
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fbecht
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2014
Posts: 4
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Post by fbecht on Sept 9, 2014 19:23:15 GMT -5
Looks great! Do you have any internal baffling? Seems most barrels have squared sides to "Mix things up". Just wondering because this is one of my next projects.
Fred
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Post by braders on Sept 11, 2014 1:38:30 GMT -5
Nice clean build im in the works as well on a home build ...but outta wood . A 24in chunk of 4in just wanna run coarse to keep vib fed . How is your rpms ? Im curious to whats the best ? I like the bumper idea as well I may do this to mine ..
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Post by braders on Sept 11, 2014 1:39:06 GMT -5
heavenly, love em all. cool designs. Bulletproof. because the pillar blocks were close together I put the end roller on the belt guard Nice idea thank you !!
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,528
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Post by Mark K on Sept 11, 2014 19:48:29 GMT -5
How are you preventing the bolts on those barrels from boring a hole in the bottom of the barrel in front of it.
The rotation is unlikely to be perfect which will cause rubbing in a small area.
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Post by Starguy on Sept 11, 2014 19:54:23 GMT -5
sakThat thing looks bulletproof. It should last forever. I like your ingenuity. One comment, get some guards around the belt and pulleys. I hate to think what that industrial tumbler would do to small fingers or long hair. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by nowyo on Sept 11, 2014 22:01:53 GMT -5
Nice job. Belt guards would be a good thing. As with most homebuilt stuff I'm sure you'll be doing a little tweaking as you use it more, I know I always do with mine. Keep us updated.
Russ
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Post by gingerkid on Sept 11, 2014 22:50:00 GMT -5
Awesome tumbler and Christmas gift for your daughter, sak! Have my grandmothers vintage sewing cabinet, but never thought about turning it into a tumbler.
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sak
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since December 2013
Posts: 88
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Post by sak on Sept 13, 2014 18:06:37 GMT -5
Looks great! Do you have any internal baffling? Seems most barrels have squared sides to "Mix things up". Just wondering because this is one of my next projects. Fred Hi fbecht - I spent quite a bit of time contemplating the use of internal baffles. In fact, my original plan called for two strips of hard rubber inside the barrel. The strips were fastened to the barrel by using JB Weld. After doing a lot of research on this topic, basically everybody on this board was telling me that baffling would contribute to rocks fracturing. As it turns out, I canceled the plan of baffles and the rocks I'm tumbling are turning out perfectly fine without them. What I realized is more important than baffles, is having the barrel 75% full as well as your RPMs speed being appropriate. I hope this helps. Thanks Sak
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